What year was Enid at the peak of her powers?

[pete9012S]

I was going to nominate 1955 as she had written so much brilliant work.

Then I thought, should I go back a bit to 1947 - was she even more at the top of her game then?
What do you think?





Three examples from 1947:




Three examples from 1955:



I think comparing these two years, for me, Enid was better in 1947.

What about you..
What year do you think she produced her best assortment of work?
What books were published in your chosen year?

[Bertie]

I think 1947 is a very good shout.
I'm basing it on which years had the best books from the 4 series I most love - Famous Five, Find-Outers, Adventure, and Barney R's.
1947 had Kirrin Island Again, Missing Necklace, Valley of Adventure - I absolutely love all of those. But it was before Barney R's started.
1950 included good books from each of those series - Five Fall into Adventure, Invisible Thief, Ship of Adventure, Rilloby Fair.
1952 saw A Wonderful Time, Circus of Adventure and Rubadub Mystery. Three very good books. But also one of my least favourite Find-Outers stories, Strange Bundle.

It's very tough to pick just one year, but those three are probably right up there for me.

[Boodi 2]

While very difficult to decide on a single year I think that Enid Blyton was at the peak of her powers in the period between 1947 and 1955. In addition to the books already mentioned, my favourite "Six Cousins at Mistletoe Farm" was published in 1948.

[pete9012S]

Many thanks for the suggestions!

I think 1950 is a great year to consider.
Her powers were definitely not on the wane in 1950.

I will check out more of her works from that year - many thanks.

[Moonraker]

1950 was a great year, for many reasons!

[pete9012S]

Was that the last time Everton won a match?!

[Katharine]

That's a really good question.

I've never really made a note of what years books were published (probably why I don't get full marks in the monthly quiz).

I shall have to visit The Cave and see if there is any particular year that my favourite books were published.

As for 1950 being a good year, at the risk of making him older than he really is, could it be the year that a certain Forumite was born?

[pete9012S]

I don't know Katharine - I think those Blyton timelines may apply here.
If Julie is only in her mid fifties, I will soon be older than her!!

https://www.enidblyton.net/about-this-website.html

Julie Heginbotham
Julie is in her mid-fifties, so still young enough to enjoy Enid Blyton! She lives in Cornwall, the perfect Blytonesque setting for anyone who loves the Famous Five. Julie's favorite book is Five Get Into Trouble, and her monicker on the Enid Blyton Society forums is Julie2owlsdene.

Nigel Rowe

Nigel is married with two sons, now grown up, born, bred and living in Salisbury, England. He is now retired, but worked for South Western Ambulance Service as a Paramedic for thirty years. Apart from numerous suggestions, comments and a generally healthy interest in this site, Nigel has contributed reviews and scans of illustrations for the Famous Five pages.

[John Pickup]

The three examples from 1947 that you've posted are amongst my favourite books of Enid's, Pete. And then in the late forties, she embarked on the wonderful Barney mysteries. The period between 1946 and 1954 definitely saw Enid at the peak of her powers.

[pete9012S]

ALERT! ACHTUNG!

We all seem to be in agreement!

Are there any other era fans out there who would like to propose a counter argument for another decade??

[Boatbuilder]

As for 1950 being a good year, at the risk of making him older than he really is, could it be the year that a certain Forumite was born?

I was thinking along those lines myself, Katharine. However, I think I'll go along with Pete's thoughts in the original post and say 1947 - for that very same reason. However, I do like those three books Pete mentions from that year. Coincidence or what?

[Anita Bensoussane]

Looking at the years in which many of my favourite titles were published, I'm following the general trend in that 1947 - 1952 seem to have been particularly good years. My top titles from within that period are as follows:

The Valley of Adventure
The Mystery of the Missing Necklace
The Sea of Adventure
Come to the Circus!
Six Cousins at Mistletoe Farm
The Rilloby Fair Mystery
Five Fall Into Adventure
The Mystery of the Invisible Thief
Six Cousins Again
The Ring O' Bells Mystery
Five on a Hike Together
The Six Bad Boys
The Rubadub Mystery
The Mystery of the Strange Bundle

[Moonraker]

As for 1950 being a good year, at the risk of making him older than he really is, could it be the year that a certain Forumite was born?

I was thinking along those lines myself, Katharine.

[Julie2owlsdene]

I wish I was in my mid 50's Pete. Maybe I was when that piece was written on Keith's site to introduce my F.O's Fan Fic in retirement, but sadly I'm now nearer to 70 .

I like the books you put forward published in 1947 Pete, and the ones published in 1955 too, so I'd say 50's for Enid's books.

[IceMaiden]

ALERT! ACHTUNG!

We all seem to be in agreement!

Are there any other era fans out there who would like to propose a counter argument for another decade??

Can I say all of them?!